Bloomberg Says More Immigrants Are Needed

Photograph by Ozzdo on Flickr

Mayor Bloomberg continues to express his dismay over Arizona's controversial immigration-enforcement law. In an interview with MyFoxNY, he said, "The solution to our problems is more immigration, more immigrants. That's been true since the Pilgrims settled here. And will continue to be true even more so in the future as we continue to live in a more global technological world."

He explained, "We have to an immigration law that everybody understands and that is enforced. And the ways to do it is very simple. It is four-pronged: You give permanent status, after [they] pay fines, learn English, whatever, to the 12 Million. You reduce the demand for labor from illegal immigrants by enforcing the laws that the companies cannot hire undocumented. And you can only do that if you give them the tools, which is a biometric Social Security card, probably nothing else. You make sure that we go and we provide visas for those that we want. And if you do those things, you have a strategy. If you don't do those things, it's not going to work."

When asked, "Is it not of a concern to you that 60 percent of Americans support the Arizona law, and a majority of New Yorkers also support it?" he responded, "I don't think 'concern' is the right word. I think it is shocking and terribly worrisome." And about the undocumented immigrants in NYC, "This city depends on these people. This country incidently depends on these people. You would devastate the national economy if by some magic, and that's the only way you would do it, you would find everybody who was here illegally and deport them."

Right now, a rally is being held at Cadman Plaza to protest Arizona's law. While a federal judge struck down parts of the law, one of the rally's organizers told NY1, "The judge's decision was really very limited. It's also temporary. It means that key provisions are actually going to go ahead, such as people being able to sue the police department if they don't enforce the law; workers are not going to be able to seek work in the streets, which is really important for people seeking day labor."

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By Jen Chung in News on July 29, 2010 11:38 AM

Comments [rss]

philosophy

He must be trying to get that elusive hispanic/chinese/carribean vote in the future when he "runs" for a 4th term.

dgeee

All the rich a-holes on Park need cheap nannies, housekeepers and dog walkers and all around cheap cash only labor, and who to better serve them than illegals? And that's what f-got Bloomberg is talking about.

John L

You're right but that's only the beginning. Remember Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch (NYPost) and CEOs of several major corporations, including Hewlett-Packard, Boeing, Disney and News Corp., are fighting for this and they're not doing it for nannies or delivery guys. They're fighting for this so they can fill their factories with minimum wage workers.

And Bloomberg loves it.

The Great Bandini

Things like food delivery were traditionally done by teenagers or retired people. Enforcing immigration laws= after school jobs to keep kids out of trouble

The Great Bandini

You wouldn't have to pay young and/or retired people or new legal immigrants much more than illegals; in some cases as in standing on corners holding signs, giving out fliers, etc. a business owner might even pay a borderline homeless person less, it's better than begging.

Markus Aurelius

For every legal worker you have to keep an administration. For day workers you don't. For every legal worker you have to pay all kinds of social fees. For day workers you don't. No more Arizona tomatoes nor upstate apples for 2 dollars a pound. No more 10 dollar delivery Mexican food. That will hurt the NYC middle class.

If someone can proof he worked in NY (illegally) for ten years, why not legalize him? Apparently he can do the job better then your drugged out homeless and takes care of himself without relying on what so ever social service.

jpeditor

"If someone can proof he worked in NY (illegally) for ten years"

take his job and don't give it back until unemployment is back to 5%

and send hinm to the back of the line for LEGAL IMMIGRATION.

"Apparently he can do the job better then your drugged out homeless and takes care of himself without relying on what so ever social service."

Thousands of NYC students and artists have lost their restaurant and painting jobs because illegals are working for half the wage and the boss' are paying less WC and unemployment insurance which is based on wage level (if they them at all).

And those illegals ARE sucking dry our social services. Go to a hospital / clinic and see who is getting free care PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS.

The Great Bandini

If his employer depends on underpaying him why would he not be forced to use social services like Medicaid? In teh company I work for many American citizens with children purposely work less hours so they can qualify for Medicaid. They simply can't afford the company medical plan with their current salary. In short, when people are underpaid, the taxpayers will always be forced to make up the difference, just not the tax-sheltered Bloomturd class.

The Great Bandini

Re: prices for goods and serices

The part of the equation that's being missed is CEO and upper management compensation. What hurts the middle class is that a CEO that used to make 4 or 6 times what the average workers made is now making 50 or 100 times. Cut that bullshit out and there's your savings. Down with the Bloomturds

The Great Bandini

You wouldn't devastate anything by deporting illegals or not letting more in; you'd have more Americans, including legal immigrants making a decent living and a tiny bit less wealth for the Bloomturds.

Tower18

Let me know if you still feel that way when your Chinese food now has a $10 delivery charge. Or when an entree at your favorite restaurant now cost $20 instead of $15.

I'm not saying that realistic pricing and the employment of Americans is bad...far from it. But there will be a lot of consequences that I don't think people fully consider.

jpeditor

Bloomberg just wants his golf courses watered for cheap.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

holy crap we agree on something

jpeditor

Yup.

jpeditor

And when more Americans are working for a decent wage.

Tower18

You would devastate the national economy if by some magic, and that's the only way you would do it, you would find everybody who was here illegally and deport them.

Sadly, he's 100% correct, because we've created a situation in our economy where we have only the haves, and the have-nots who feed and clean up after the haves. That's it. And yes, if all the have-nots were deported, the haves would riot. My, how the tables have turned.

OuHe

Bloomie is the best! I want to have his baby

Bubba

Yes to more people who will bow and scrape in the presence of the Almighty Bloomberg!

pal

bloomberg is such a creep. he knows the real reason why he wants more immigrants and gives a completely bullshit reason otherwise. he is so horrible. he says what he pleases because he knows there are enough fools who will believe him. he capitlaizes on the apathy of the masses.